Boston College Athletics
Celebrating 10 Years in the ACC
September 18, 2015 | Football
The Eagles face Atlantic Division opponent Florida State 10 years after joining the ACC
Written by Reid Oslin
Tonight's Boston College – Florida State game is being played 10 years – almost to the very day – since the Eagles and Seminoles kicked off BC's inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference football game.
The Eagles' first ACC football game was played on September 17, 2005 in Chestnut Hill against the eighth-ranked Seminoles, coached by Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden.
But ACC Commissioner John Swofford says that the concept that led to Boston College joining the fabled college sports conference actually originated on an October afternoon back in 1997.
"That was my first year as Commissioner of the ACC," Swofford explained. "Georgia Tech played at Boston College [October 4] and I came up for the game.
"Tom O'Brien was BC's football coach back then, and of course I knew Tom from his days [as offensive coordinator] at the University of Virginia," Swofford said. "I spoke with him on the field before the game during warm-ups. I'll never forget that he made the comment to me 'John, BC is an ACC-type school. You really ought to think about that if anything ever changes in the conference membership going forward.'
Swofford continued, "Then I got to know [Boston College President] Fr. William Leahy and I have so much respect and admiration for him. Of course Gene DeFilippo and I knew each other for a long time prior to his coming to BC as athletics director.
"But," Swofford continued, "I always remember that conversation on the field at Alumni Stadium with Tom O'Brien. It was one sentence from him and an acknowledgement from me.
"Eight years later, it became a reality."
Gaining approval to join the ACC was a bit of a rocky road for the Jesuit university from Chestnut Hill, but when the dust finally settled and league membership was approved, the Eagles had a new sports affiliation and Eagle fans have been treated to one of the most exciting and competitive sports conferences in the nation over the past decade.
When BC's membership into the ACC became official on July 1, 2005, the occasion was marked by a massive party at Boston's famed Fenway Park where ACC officials joined University administrators, coaches and alumni to toast the new sports partnership.
Swofford recalled the event with a smile: "Anytime you have something at Fenway Park - one of the greatest 'sports cathedrals' in the world, really - it's special. My wife and I came in the gate under the Green Monster and I accidentally stepped right out on the field. It took about two seconds for a security person to run out and throw me off of it," he laughed. "But we had a great time."
The night before BC's first ACC football game, DeFilippo chartered a boat that cruised Boston Harbor, offering a waterside view of Boston to the ACC management team, officials from Florida State and BC senior staffers. The only problem that night was a typical New England-style October gale that brought heavy winds, rain and tossing seas, causing more than one distinguished visitor to avoid the buffet line during the harbor cruise. "We spent most of the time inside," recalled Swofford. "But, in the end, everybody had a wonderful time to celebrate the occasion."
Thankfully, the weather cleared in time for Saturday's prime time game – which was televised nationally by ESPN. Even the sports network's "College Football Gameday" show was broadcast from campus that day. A full house of 44,500 fans filled Alumni Stadium for the school's inaugural ACC football contest. As Commissioner, Swofford presided at the pre-game coin toss. "It was electric," he said. "It was a celebration – and it deserved to be."
The ACC debut game did not start well for the Eagles. FSU linebacker A.J. Nicholson picked off BC quarterback Quinton Porter's pass on the first play of the game and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. A minute or so later, Nicholson picked off another errant throw and the Seminoles jumped to a 14-0 lead before many fans had even settled into their seats.
BC battled back to take a 17-14 halftime lead, but the nationally-ranked 'Noles rallied for a 28-17 victory to spoil BC's ACC football debut.
"It is hard to believe that it has been a decade since that game, but I think that it has turned out well," Swofford noted recently. "BC has just been such a great fit for the ACC in every respect, starting with the institution itself as well as the athletic program. I will always be appreciative to Fr. Leahy and to Gene for their efforts in working through what was a really dynamic and changing time in college athletics.
"I think the two of us – meaning BC and the ACC – getting together was really the right decision for both of us and has served both of us extremely well in this first decade together," Swofford said.
Tonight's Boston College – Florida State game is being played 10 years – almost to the very day – since the Eagles and Seminoles kicked off BC's inaugural Atlantic Coast Conference football game.
The Eagles' first ACC football game was played on September 17, 2005 in Chestnut Hill against the eighth-ranked Seminoles, coached by Hall of Famer Bobby Bowden.
But ACC Commissioner John Swofford says that the concept that led to Boston College joining the fabled college sports conference actually originated on an October afternoon back in 1997.
"That was my first year as Commissioner of the ACC," Swofford explained. "Georgia Tech played at Boston College [October 4] and I came up for the game.
"Tom O'Brien was BC's football coach back then, and of course I knew Tom from his days [as offensive coordinator] at the University of Virginia," Swofford said. "I spoke with him on the field before the game during warm-ups. I'll never forget that he made the comment to me 'John, BC is an ACC-type school. You really ought to think about that if anything ever changes in the conference membership going forward.'
Swofford continued, "Then I got to know [Boston College President] Fr. William Leahy and I have so much respect and admiration for him. Of course Gene DeFilippo and I knew each other for a long time prior to his coming to BC as athletics director.
"But," Swofford continued, "I always remember that conversation on the field at Alumni Stadium with Tom O'Brien. It was one sentence from him and an acknowledgement from me.
"Eight years later, it became a reality."
Gaining approval to join the ACC was a bit of a rocky road for the Jesuit university from Chestnut Hill, but when the dust finally settled and league membership was approved, the Eagles had a new sports affiliation and Eagle fans have been treated to one of the most exciting and competitive sports conferences in the nation over the past decade.
When BC's membership into the ACC became official on July 1, 2005, the occasion was marked by a massive party at Boston's famed Fenway Park where ACC officials joined University administrators, coaches and alumni to toast the new sports partnership.
Swofford recalled the event with a smile: "Anytime you have something at Fenway Park - one of the greatest 'sports cathedrals' in the world, really - it's special. My wife and I came in the gate under the Green Monster and I accidentally stepped right out on the field. It took about two seconds for a security person to run out and throw me off of it," he laughed. "But we had a great time."
The night before BC's first ACC football game, DeFilippo chartered a boat that cruised Boston Harbor, offering a waterside view of Boston to the ACC management team, officials from Florida State and BC senior staffers. The only problem that night was a typical New England-style October gale that brought heavy winds, rain and tossing seas, causing more than one distinguished visitor to avoid the buffet line during the harbor cruise. "We spent most of the time inside," recalled Swofford. "But, in the end, everybody had a wonderful time to celebrate the occasion."
Thankfully, the weather cleared in time for Saturday's prime time game – which was televised nationally by ESPN. Even the sports network's "College Football Gameday" show was broadcast from campus that day. A full house of 44,500 fans filled Alumni Stadium for the school's inaugural ACC football contest. As Commissioner, Swofford presided at the pre-game coin toss. "It was electric," he said. "It was a celebration – and it deserved to be."
The ACC debut game did not start well for the Eagles. FSU linebacker A.J. Nicholson picked off BC quarterback Quinton Porter's pass on the first play of the game and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. A minute or so later, Nicholson picked off another errant throw and the Seminoles jumped to a 14-0 lead before many fans had even settled into their seats.
BC battled back to take a 17-14 halftime lead, but the nationally-ranked 'Noles rallied for a 28-17 victory to spoil BC's ACC football debut.
"It is hard to believe that it has been a decade since that game, but I think that it has turned out well," Swofford noted recently. "BC has just been such a great fit for the ACC in every respect, starting with the institution itself as well as the athletic program. I will always be appreciative to Fr. Leahy and to Gene for their efforts in working through what was a really dynamic and changing time in college athletics.
"I think the two of us – meaning BC and the ACC – getting together was really the right decision for both of us and has served both of us extremely well in this first decade together," Swofford said.
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